Chalk-line holder.



H. J. MELDRUIVI.

CHALK LINE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1915.

1 219,473. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

WITN ESSES h I ATTORNEY were HENRY J'. MELDRUM, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CHALK-LINE HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. MELDRUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chalk-Line Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to chalk line holders and the primary object thereof resides in the provision of an improved winding means for the cord as well as a novel chalking means for association with the cord, the chalking means being movable simultaneously with the winding means so that the cord which is connected to the winding means when being withdrawn from the winding means will travel in a direction opposite to the travel or rotation of the chalking means thereby increasing the amount of chalk on the cord to consequently increase the efiiciency of the chalk line device when in use.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of a novel resiliently mounted holding means cooperating with the cord and the chalking means for maintaining the cord in close relation with the chalking means while it is being withdrawn and while the cord is being wound, novel adjusting means being associated with the holding means for governing the tension of the holding means.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a novel chalk holder formed so that a new piece of chalk may be associated therewith, a casing for receiving the winding means and the chalk holder being provided with an opening having a sliding closure, which when in an open position, allows access to the interior of the cas ing for associating a new piece of chalk with the chalk holder.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrange ment of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of'my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the engaging means. v

Fig. i is a fragmentary longitudinal sec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Mar. 20, 1917.

Application filed November 9, 1915. Serial No. 60,547.

tional view of the supporting hook used when the device is used in connection with a plumb bob.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate like and corresponding parts throughout the different views, I provide a tapering casing 1 with an arcuate partition 2 forming a semi-cylindrical chamber while a semi-cylindrical cover 3 is hinged to the casing so as to consequently provide a cylindrical chamber 3. A hook 4 is formed on the outer surface of the cover and serves to support the device when not in use.

l'lotatably mounted in the cylindrical chamber 3 is a shaft 5 to which is rigidly connected a winding drum 6. A cord or chalk line 7 has one end rigidly connected to the drum and is adapted to be wound about the drum when the latter is rotated. A gear 8 is rigidly connected to one end of the shaft between the side of the casing or chamber and one end of the drum. The teeth of the gear are arranged in mesh with the teeth of a larger gear 9 rigidly mount ed on one end of a shaft 10, the latter being rotatably mounted between the sides of a slot 11 in the partition 2 and journaled in bearings 12 integral with opposite sides of the casing as illustrated to advantage in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings. The gear 9 rotates through a slot 13 in the arcuate partition, while the teeth of this gear also rotate my improved chalking means or holder.

My improved chalking means in this instance consists essentially of two stub shafts 1d and 15, each being rotatably mounted in the laterally eXtending journal brackets 16 rigidly connected to the inner surface of the small end of the casing through the medium of suitable fastening means 17 The adjacent ends of each of the shafts having a cup 18 centrally connected thereto, the cups receiving the respective ends of a piece of chalk 19, the sides of the cup engaging the sides of the chalk and thereby establishing a. substantially rigid connection between the chalk and the stub shafts. The opposite end of the stub shaft 14 is journaled in a suitable bearing 19 while a gear 20 is rigidly connected to this end of the shaft between the bearing and the journal bracket, the teeth of the gear 20 being arranged in mesh with the teeth of the gear 9 so that the stub shafts llO will revolve when motion is imparted to the gear 20. A suitable means for facilitating the engagement between the cups l8 and the chalk, in this instance, consists of a coil spring 21 mounted about the stub shaft 15,-

tended throu h another uide 0 enin 23in the small end of the casing as is illustrated to advantage 1n the drawings. Now for the purpose of maintainingthe chalk line or cord in close relation with the chalk, I have provided my lmproved holding means which, in this instance, are resiliently and adjustably mounted. This holding means consists of an elongated roller 24, the reduced ends 25 of which are rotatably mounted in the free ends of the resilient journal brackets 26, which latter have their inner ends connected to the upper surface of the casing adjacent the small end through the medium of suitable fastening devices 27. In order to hold the roller in close relation with the cord or chalk line 7 and consequently maintain the latter in close relation with the chalk while the cord" is being wound upon the drum and being withdrawn therefrom, I have provided my improved adjusting means comprising set screws 28 operating in openings 29 in the upper surface of the casing, the free ends of the screws being in engagement with the brackets 26 as illustrated to advantage in the drawings. In order to allow access to the interior of the casing and permit of an insertion of a new piece of chalk between the holders 18 I have provided the bottom of the casing adjacent the small end with an opening 80, guides 31 being formed longitudinally of the outer surface of the bottom of the casing and arranged upon opposite sides of the opening for facilitating the sliding movement of a door 32. This door is operated through the medium of a finger piece 33'.

For the purpose of facilitating the operation of the gears and consequently cause the chalking means to be rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the chalk line, I have connected a crank handle 34 to the projecting end of the transverse shaft 5. r

"Ooepera ting with the winding means when the chalk line device is in operation, is

7 my improved engaging means including a hook .35 one end of, which is connected to the cord or chalk line 7. This engaging hook is adapted to be associated wane wall, (not shown) when the device is in'u'se. V

The operation of my invention is as follows:* V r r .Assuming that it is desired to use the ichalk line device, the engaging hook'35 is attached'to a wall or other support (not shown) in the course of construction, said hook serving asan anchor forthe cord or chalk line '7. .The' casing is now carried away from the engaging hook toward the opposite end of the wall, during which,

rotated, causing. the cord to be wound upon 7 the drum where it can be subsequently used in the manner previously described. Should it be desired to insert a' new piece of chalk, the door 32 is slid away from the opening while the cup 18 is pressed against the tension of the sp'ring'21 thereby'allowing the chalk l 9 'to fall from, the cup holders and permit of the new piece of chalk being applied in an obvious manner. When not in use the supporting hook e serves to maintain the device in a suitable place. This hook may also be used to advantage should it be desired to associate a plumb bob with the cord. I

Although I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I

desire it to be understood that I am not to i be limited to the eXact details shown, however, I desire that great stress be laid upon the arrangement of the winding means carrying the cord and having the chalking means coeperating therewith and operating simultaneously therewith, as welllias the holding means for the cord for facilitating the chalking of the cord during the opera; tion of thedevice;

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it can easily be seen that I haveprovided a device that is simple in construction, con taining but a few simple parts that can becheaply manufactured; and assembled and when assembled can be placed upon the market and sold'at a minimum cost, 7 n It will be understood that the above'description and accompanyingdrawings com prehend only the general embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in detail of construction, proportion and arsacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A chalk line holder including a casing, a chalk line, winding means for the chalk line, chalking means within the casing for acting upon the chalk line during the operation of the winding means, a rotatably and resiliently mounted roller arranged within the casing for holding the chalk line in engagement with .the chalk means.

2. A chalk line holder including a casing, winding means within the casing, a chalk line associated with the winding means, chalking means cooperating with the chalk line when the chalk line is being wound upon the drum or being withdrawn therefrom a rotatably mounted roller resilient means for supporting the roller, and adjusting means for engagement with the sup porting means for holding the roller in engagement with the chalk line and for consequently holding the chalk line in close relation with the chalking means while it is being operated.

3. A chalk line holder including a casing, a winding drum rotatably mounted in the casing, a chalk line connected to the winding means, rotatably mounted stub shafts arranged in spaced alinement in the casing, one of which is removable, cups formed on the adjacent ends of the stub shafts, a piece &

of chalk arranged between the cups, resilient means mounted on the removable stub shaft for maintaining an effective engagement between the cups and the chalk, and means for simultaneously rotating the drum and the stub shafts to facilitate the appli cation of the chalk to the chalk line.

a. A chalk line holder including a casing, a drum rotatably mounted in the casing, a chalk line connected to the drum, a gear carried by the drum, a piece of chalk, a chalk holder rotatably mounted in the easing and removably and resiliently associated with the piece of chalk for cooperating with the chalk line during operation of the drum, a gear carried by the chalk holder, resilient brackets mounted in the casing, a roller rotatably mounted in the brackets, means for adjustably engaging the brackets for consequently holding the chalk line in close relation with the piece of chalk, and another gear rotatably mounted in the casing intermediate and meshing with the first mentioned. gears whereby when the drum is 1'0- tated the piece of chalk will be rotated in the same direction but opposite to the direction assumed by the chalk line when it is being wound or unwound.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY J. MELDRUM. WVitnesses:

MANFRED HILL, JOHN F. HOLMES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

